A PLACE FOR YOUR SOUL

The first space I can remember that belonged solely to me was a top dresser drawer with a key. In it I kept secret notes from my best friend, plus the paper that gave me full rights and ownership to the playhouse. I had tricked my brothers into signing the document by folding it just right and telling them, “I want to see what your signature looks like.”

Until our youngest was four years old it never entered my mind that I needed my own space. It was only because I wanted somewhere to be alone with God that I began to think about myself. Ever since then I’ve always found a spot to call my own, no matter how small it is.

I’m talking about a place where you can put up pictures or a poster or set out some memorabilia. It’s a place where things don’t have to match the décor. A place for your soul. The things here are props that define us, comfort us, and that are unique to who we are. What about that old high school trophy you’re proud of but everyone else rolls their eyes at? Are you sentimental? I enjoy a small, blue, clay dish my husband Terry made when he was in high school. Have you got a favorite photo?

I’m always fascinated by people’s personal space (or lack of) because it reveals so much about them. We all have our “face” we present to the world, however, our personal space shows who we really are.

Our soul is who God purposely created us to be, it’s our personality. In heaven we will have both our soul and our spirit, so we will still be ourselves, just without the broken places.

Do you have books, photographs, or knick-knacks? Is your space chock-full of treasures or is it minimal, practical, organized? My curiosity isn’t to judge but to see who you are. If you want to learn about someone then look at what they put in their space. I have a bowl of old keys in my space, and two folded paper boats.

Between having young children, a full-time job, a small living space, pets, a spouse, or a busy lifestyle, we tend to lose ourselves. Maybe you’ve never thought about having your own space, but I’ve come to realize that it’s valuable, not only to us as individuals but to our relationship with God. We need a place where we can go, not only to be alone with God, but to quiet our souls with downtime. It may be nothing more than sitting on the bed with your space being your bedside table (and there have been several times that’s all I’ve had).

I know most men drool over having a media room but I’m talking more about a “man cave.” Men seem to think the whole house belongs to the woman, but it doesn’t, it’s merely living space. Seeing a book recently that talked about what your stuff tells about you, I came home and looked at my things with new eyes. Do you even have a place for your stuff? Do you have stuff at all? Why not? Who are you? Men need a space to call their own as much as women.

Look at your space with new eyes. God created you unique, does it represent you? Why do these things represent you? My friend Chong and I were walking through a store and I saw a large basket I wanted to put in the corner of my office to hold my yoga mat and accessories. Chong told me to get a cardboard box and save my money. Since the basket was seventy-one dollars “on sale” I did save my money. But we are definitely different personalities.

If I realize that something in my space is producing a negative emotion, if at all possible, I remove it. I took something out yesterday that was cool and I wanted to like, but I just didn’t.

My brother Nathan loves maps, and his space (before kids took the basement) was a desk with maps covering the walls.

I know someone who’s space was nothing more than the three feet around his chair in the den, but those were his books and things so you’d better not bother them. My dad has always had an “office” with a Thai painting of fighting elephants hanging over his desk. My mom refused to hang it anywhere else but he loved it and that was his space. One time our family lived in two rooms over a store on Main Street. However, we still each had our own space for our stuff—one shelf each, on a bookshelf, but that space was sacred.

Jesus relates to us as individuals because he created us unique. If you haven’t thought much about who you really are then look around at your space. Who is represented here? Do you feel like that person is you? Does your space feed your soul? If not, maybe it’s time to revamp it. Recently I went through my space and switched out some things. Now it feels fresh and joyful.

Start looking around. Does the person God created you to be show? If I come visit and peek into your space, will I see the true you?